Kyoto has been a thriving pottery production center since the 17th century. After World War II, young men born into pottery families formed Sodeisha, literarily "Crawling through Mud Association." This group of avant-garde artists created objets d'art that deviated from traditional pottery, in the pursuit of its potential as a pure art form. Discover how tradition and innovation keep Kyoto culture alive through the ceramicists who continue to value the Sodeisha ideals.

Stone is a noticeable feature when walking through Kyoto's townscape: pavements, stairs, and religious statuary and objects. Stonemasons bring out the inherent beauty and qualities of their materials.